At Worst, I'll Die

By the time Chen Bei had put his black frames back on and stood before the dining room's round table, the Young Masters had already deigned to take their seats, crossing their legs with rakish ease.

"Assistant Chen, what cuisine are we having for lunch?" Luo Chen asked offhandedly.

Chen Bei said, "Thank you all for waiting a few minutes. We'll eat after the results are announced."

"Haven't I taught you?" Luo Chen tapped the table with a bent finger. "Make the most of your time and improve efficiency. Don't waste energy on results we already know."

Your boss here hasn't had so much as a grain of rice since this morning.

Assistant Chen, do you even have a heart?!

"Sorry, President Chen, but we can't skip the necessary procedures." Chen Bei held up the script the Production Crew had prepared and continued unhurriedly, "Based on overall performance in this morning's weeding task, the rankings are as follows."

"Groups two and three tied for first."

"Group one came in last."

"The punishment is-sleeping in the storeroom tonight."

That was far better than scrubbing toilets, and they could even spend time alone together. Qin Yufan secretly rejoiced, but his face was full of guilt. "I'm sorry, Luo Chen. I dragged you down."

If apologies worked now, what would we need the police for?!

Luo Chen had wanted to snap back, but he suddenly changed tack, his gaze drifting across the table. "You didn't drag me down. It's been ages since we caught up, anyway. We can talk in private tonight."

Meng Han, who had been doing his best to blend into the background, suddenly felt a piercing gaze sweep over him and lowered his head helplessly. "..."

Why look at me when you're the ones having a chat?

What,

do you want me to stand watch for you all night, too?

That's a eunuch's job!

Seeing him bury his head like an ostrich, Luo Chen couldn't help curling his lips. Jealous? Heh, little thing. Sooner or later, you'll come to please me of your own accord!

"Sorry to interrupt everyone's fantasies," Chen Bei suddenly cut in. "Old Luo's instructions were that the punishment only applies to the Young Masters. Guest stars don't need to be implicated."

"What?" Qin Yufan protested heatedly. "That's not fair!"

His uncontrolled pitch drew everyone's eyes.

Realizing something was wrong, he hurriedly steadied his emotions. "After all, I'm the one who dragged Luo Chen down. How could I let him take the punishment alone?"

Chen Bei looked over. "Then why don't you take his place?"

Qin Yufan didn't catch on. "I-"

"You're unwilling?" Chen Bei raised an eyebrow.

"Of course I'm willing." Qin Yufan hesitated as he tried to continue. "But..."

"As long as you're willing." Chen Bei gave him no chance and said directly, "Congratulations, President Chen. Someone has volunteered to take your punishment."

Qin Yufan awkwardly curled his lips and looked to Luo Chen for help. "Luo Chen, I-"

"Thanks." Luo Chen gave a cool, haughty smile. "Can we eat now?"

Your boss here is seriously about to starve to death!

Qin Yufan said, "..."

[Hahahaha, the domineering CEO just agreed like that? To let someone else take his punishment?!]

[Seriously, am I the only one who saw Qin Yufan's face? He was practically losing it! He never dreamed Assistant Chen would pull one over on him!]

[Pfft, what was supposed to be an intimate day of heart-to-hearts turned into a terrifying night alone in the storeroom?]

[Biluochun Classmate, you really went for wool and came home shorn this time!]

[...]

Lunch was cabbage stewed with potatoes, stir-fried tomatoes and eggs, and cold spinach salad.

There weren't many dishes, but the portions were generous and filling. Paired with long-grain paddy rice, they tasted especially good.

Without another word, Chen Bei polished off a bowl first.

Noticing the person beside him stealing glances, he wiped his mouth. "Second Young Master Luo, it's rude to keep staring at an omega's nape."

Before Luo Ming could answer, a complaint came from across the table. "Assistant Chen, you're actually serving me cabbage?"

"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey!" Luo Chen grabbed a napkin and spat out everything in his mouth. "Is this fit for human consumption?"

Luo Ming struggled to maintain the curve of his lips as he looked over in disgust. "..."

Brother, I understand fighting for the inheritance,

but what's with all this scene-stealing?!

"Steward Wu," Luo Chen called toward the kitchen without a care, "you have three minutes. Make me a medium-well steak."

Before the deeply aggrieved Steward Wu could speak, the dining room's LED screen suddenly switched on, and a scolding voice rang out at the same time. "You brat! Do you think this is a Michelin restaurant? A medium-well steak?! In your dreams!"

"Grandpa?" Luo Chen turned, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes. "You..."

"What's wrong with cabbage and potatoes?!" Luo Zhenhua's face was full of anger. "That's what I ate after work back then! I was still growing, and I relied entirely on those dishes for nutrition!"

"Do you realize that what you're turning your nose up at is something other people can only dream of having?!"

Luo Chen refused to accept it. "Grandpa, I know you want us to experience hardship, but you can't force hardship where there isn't any, can you?"

[Hmm? You know what, President Chen has a point. How about some easyship instead?]

[I'd never agree to manufactured hardship if it were me, but if it's the Young Masters, hiss-suddenly I think it's fine?]

[I think Old Luo has the right idea. Financial tycoons, entrepreneurs, Top Alphas, and the like need to experience ordinary poor people's lives so they won't be so high and mighty.]

[...]

Clearly, the head of the Luo Family had more authority to dictate matters. Setting logic and reason aside, he barked, "If I tell you to eat, eat. If you have any more objections, you can leave the show."

The video call was cut off as soon as he finished.

Silence returned to the dining room, until Luo Chen broke it with a disdainful voice. "Assistant Chen, let's see how long the old man can protect you!"

"You'd better never fall into my hands..."

Chewing his spinach, Chen Bei looked utterly indifferent. "President Chen, lately I've had just three principles."

"It won't kill me."

"At worst, I'll die."

"Death would suit me just fine."

After all, with the Truth-Telling System bound to him, he wasn't going to live long anyway. He might as well throw caution to the wind.

[What a cutting-edge mental state. I love it!]

[The other me in this world! I love you even more now, Assistant Chen!]

[Exactly. Death would be perfect. No more being a wage slave!]

Behind the monitor, Director Meng scratched his head in confusion at the comments filling the screen. "Why does the theme seem a little off?"

"Wasn't this supposed to be a romantic action flick?"

"How did it turn into a wage slave losing his mind?"

After lunch came a two-hour break.

Chen Bei planned to stroll around the villa's back garden. He had only just stepped onto the tree-lined path when he noticed someone following him.

He turned around directly. "Did you need something, Second Young Master?"

Luo Ming curved his lips. "Do I need a reason to take this path?"

"No." Chen Bei turned his feet. "I just don't want to walk with you."

As he spoke, he headed in the opposite direction, only for Luo Ming to catch his wrist.

His prominent nose moved closer, his breath spilling over Chen Bei's nape in a wave of heat.

Discomfort stirred in Chen Bei's gland. He frowned and tried to pull free, only to hear a rich, magnetic voice. "Assistant Chen, have you ever had a compatibility test at a hospital?"

"Why do your pheromones feel somehow broken?"

Chen Bei tilted his head, avoiding that intimate proximity. "I don't feel broken."

"I do feel a little broke, though."

"Can you smell that?"

"Hm? Luo Ergou?"

[Pfft! Dog Number Two, seriously?!]